Shingle positioning gauge



' June 23, 1959 c. L. HARRisqN ETA-L 2,891,318

SHINGLEI POSITIONING GAUGE Filed Nov. 12, 1954 A W T 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR9 C 2a kence Hau /45 1 June .23, 1959 c L. HARRISON ETAL 2,891,318

SHINGLEJ POSITIONING GAUGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 12. 1954 I 1 N V EN TORS. l/qk v's vz S 8 1M HZ 0/079.

2,891,318 Patented June 23, 1959 United States Patent'ofiiice j 2,891,318 SI-IINGLE POSITIONING GAUGE Application November 12 1954, SerialNol This invention relates to a shingle, positioning gauge intended particularly for use in connection with the laying of shingles on the sides of buildings, the shingles being laid in a double course or layer of shingles in each row, with the butts of the shingles of the outer layer projecting downwardly a distance beyond the butt ends of the inner course of shingles in the row. l

i The invention has an object'a shingle positioning gauge which can be conveniently and quickly detachably clamped to shingles of a laid row, the gauge including a horizontally positioned straight edge properly spaced inthe body from the butt ends of the shingles in a laid row; The 1 straight edge is forrned along its upper, edge surface to receive andcorrectlyposition a double course row of shingleawithf the out'ercourse of shingles in the row properly. offset downwardly from the inner course of shingles, whereby the row of loose shingles. positioned 1 on the straight edge may be quickly and conveniently nailedin'placeg f The invention has as a further object an'arran'gement for retaining" the loose shingles positioned uponthe straight edge until they have been fixedly nailed in place.

The invention has as a further object an arrangement for providing a djustment of the gauge to vary the distance between thestraight edge and thebutt ends of the laid row of shingles, and further means, for conveniently ad .justing vertically the "position of the straight edge in inr;

stances where it is desirable remake ,af'slight adjustment, ina particular'row of 'shingles,"in order that the .row .will, properly'aline with window casings, door casings, m

; Theinvention consists in the novel features .and. in the combinations claimed. H (In describing this inventionfref erence is had to the accompanying drawingsin" which like haractersdesignate corresponding parts'in-"allthe views? In the drawings Figure l is a front elevational view of the shingle positioning gauge embodying our invention, the gauge being shown in operative position on the side of a buildmg.

Figure 2 is a view looking to the right, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken centrally through the clamp member and straight edge support.

Figure 4 is a view taken on line 44, Figure 1.

The shingle positioning gauge consists of a clamp member, a straight edge support extending upwardly from the clamp member, and a straight edge positioned in the support. The clamp member is provided with manually operable means whereby it is quickly and conveniently clamped to the butt end of a shingle in the outer course of a laid row. The clamp members and their supports are used in pairs, atfixed to the laid row of shingles in spaced apart relation, to support the straight edge, which forms a temporary shelf on which the shingles for the next row are positioned preparatory to being nailed in place. The gauge further includes a pair of members and constructions hereinafter set forth, and

"detachably afiixed to the ends of the straight edge and extending upwardly therefrom to support a strand or cord under which the upper ends of the shingles positioned on the straight edge are arranged, whereby the cord serves to prevent accidental displacement of the shingles from the straight edge until the shingles have been nailed in place.

- The clamp member consists of a body 10 formed with .a projection 11 adapted to be inserted or positioned under -1he butt end of a laid shingle 12. As previously stated, the device is intended particularly in connection with the laying of shingles in double course rows-that is, the shingles 12' are laid over an inner course of shingles 13. {Ihe shingles 12, in the outer course of each row, are secured in place with their butt ends depending below the butt ends of the inner shingles 13, see Figure 2. The *clamp body 10 is formed in its outer surface with a vertically extending slot 15 in which is positioned a movable jaw l6. The lower end of the jaw 16 is formed with laterally extending projections 18 seated in notches formed 10, whereby the clamp 16 is pivotally mounted for movement toward and from the portion 11. There is affixed to the body 10, as by screw 19, a straight edge support 20. In the drawings, this support is formed from a bar, rectangular in cross section, positioned in the bottom of the slot 15 and extending upwardly and downwardly from the body 10. The upper end of the support bar 20 isprovided with a bracket 22 having an offset portion 23 formed to removably receive a straight edge 25, The. upper edge surface of the straight edge is formed with a groove 26 ofrset downwardly from the upperflinner edge surface 28. The support bar 20 is for'rn edwith .a plurality of threaded apertures spaced apart lengthwise of the bar to receive the screw 19. This arrangement is to provide for vertical adjustment ofthe support bar relative to the clamping member in orderthat the gauge may be used in connection with the laying of shingles of different lengths and to provide jdifiere'nt lengths of overlap or exposure to the weather. For example, with the screw 19 positioned in the threaded aper'ture, as shown inFigures 1 and 3, the device is adjustedlfor 18 inch shingles. With the screw positioned injaperture 29, the device will accommodate 20 inch 'sliinglespand with the. screw positioned in the aperture '30, the device will accommodate 24 inch shingles.

" The bracket portion 22 .is preferably attached to the support 1bar20 so that the bracketmay be adjusted verticallyr,ela'tive to the support. As shown, the bracket 22 is formed with an elongated slot 33 to receive aclamp- Qing'sLcre I34 threading into the support 20. The lower with a narrow portion 35 bent inwardly and positioned in an elongated 's1ot36 formed in the support 20. This arrangement permits vertical adjustment of the bracket 22 upon loosening of the clamp screw 34, and the bent portion 35 prevents rotation of the bracket about the axis of the screw 34 when it is loosened. The face or outer side of the support bar 20 may be graduated as at 37 to readily indicate the amount of vertical adjustment of the bracket. This adjustment of the bracket 22, relative to the support bar 20, is to slightly modify the spacing of the straight edge so the new row of shingles will come in alinement with a part of the building, as a window casing, or a door casing.

The body 10 is formed at its upper end with a pair of ear portions 38 positioned on opposite sides of the slot 15. A cam member 40 is positioned between the ears 38 and is pivotally mounted on a pin 41 extending through the ears and the cam member. When the cam member is swung outwardly from the position shown in Figure 3, the jaw 16 is moved outwardly and cooperating gsensm A with the support bar 20. When the cam member is swung inwardly to the position shown in Figure 3, .the jaw 16 is cammed inwardly toward the bar 20. The jaw is formed with laterally extending ears 46, in each of which a screw .47 is threaded and provided at its inner end with a rubber foot pad 43. These pads engage the outer surface of the shingle 12. The upper end of the jaw 16 is provided with a screw 50 having a pad 51 engaging the bar 20. The screws 47, 50, are adjusted so when the cam member 40 is actuated, the pads 48 compress against the outer surface of the shingle 12 and the pad 51 compresses against the bar 2th. The purpose of the jaw 16 extending upwardly and being provided with the screw 50 is to reduce any tendency of the bar 20,. to spring outwardly from the building when the gauge is in use.

The lower end of the bar 20 is threaded to receive a screw 55 provided with a pad 56 for engaging the outer shingle 12 of the next lower laid row of shingles.

In operation, the clamp member is positioned with the portion 11 under the butt end of an outer shingle 12, and the cam 40 is moved inwardly to thus securely clamp the member to the shingle. The members are used in pairs, as illustrated in Figure 1, and with a pair of clamp members aflixed to shingles 12 of the last laid layer, the brackets 23 being positioned a predetermined distance above the shingles 12, as will be apparent. The straight What we claim is:

1. A shingle positioning gauge comprising a clamp member having a body formed with a portion adapted to be positioned under the butt end of a laid shingle, a support bar fixedly secured to said body and extending vertically upwardly and downwardly from said body, a jaw member mounted on the body for movement toward and from said shingle engagingportion of the body, cam means carried by the body and operable to move said jaw toward the laid shingle, said jaw having shingle engaging members engaging the outer'surface of; said laid shingle at oppositesides 'of the body and a member engaging e u wa qlr xtendin pq len of sa d suppo ba z a engaging members being adjustable relative to said jaw toward and from the laid shingle, the upper end of said;

support bar being provided to receive a straight edge, in said bracket.

'2 A shingle positioning gauge device for use in laying shingles in double course comprising a pair of rigid body members, each formed with a projection adapted to be positioned under the extended butt end of a single in the with an offset bracket adapted and a straight edge positioned outer layer of the double course, a straight edge support fixedly secured to eaeh of said body members and exedge 25 is then positioned in the brackets for the recp- 7 tion of the singles of the next double course row. The straight edge 25 is several feet in length, whereby the shingles for'the next row of considerable length may be positioned on the straight edge preparatory to being nailed in place. i

shingles from the straight edge, as by a gust ofwind', an arm 60 is attached to each end of the straight edge. The lower end of the arms 61! are provided with an offset portion generally in the form of a Q-clamp, the lower end of which is provided with a clamp screw 61, see Figures 1 and 2 The arms 60 extend an appreciable distance above the straight edge and serve to support a flexible strand or cord 62. The cord may be fixedly tied at one end to one of the. arms 60, and the opposite end may be provided with a spring 64 hooking onto or otherwise ta l c n te 9 th r armhe doubl IQ A W Qt h n e e q iticn on h tra ht e g 5. w h he lin ends vq a dh he 9 d- 1-. 11 1. arrangement prevents the. shingles from being blown or knocked 011 from the strai ght edge betore the work h pr i ti n 011, s id w In order to prevent premature displacement of the tending, ver ically p ar l th r f m nd being. spac outwardl rom sa P o ec ion 0 h body to o rl e the e ite? surfia e o said sh n l a iew me b r mount.- esl Qn each. set said body m mb rs for mov men o- W r an ina s id shin le nd hav n s in e aging p t i n rqsi ned on. qpiws te des Qf ai stra ght edge a s ca r d. by the d n ope e o Sflid shingle and to move the into engagement with the outer surf e of said shingle, a straight edge carried by said trai ht dg suppor s a p ir of arms d b y secured' to said straight edge and extending upwardly heref om in p xim ty o the pp p io of sai l id shingle, and a flexible strand secured at its ends to the pper en Qt ai ,v armsrneie r n. an "inw rd R finance Ci d in e e f this pa t UNITED STATES PATENTS 2. .125 Alli on. n 79 .9 953%. E nsh M y 13, 1834 $2,792, Stacey et a1 July 29, 1884 47 8. 0. .1 Baron uly 1. 92 807,957 Neptune Dec. 19, 19.05 935 052 Vweme A g 6, 1912 906112 1 1 l-y 1913 "1,085,353 Miller .r Jan. 27, 1914 1,172,775; Engbrecht Feb. 22, 1916 2. 51.663. ci t May 9.1939 2,496,645 Unwin. Feb. 7, 195,0 

